WFP sounds alarm over food supply collapse in Sudan due to funding

GENEVA, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday sounded alarm over the situation in Sudan, saying that its operations are on the verge of a major collapse due to a critical funding shortfall.
The WFP said it will be forced to dramatically cut food rations starting in April 2026 at a time when famine is tightening its grip on the country.
Speaking online from Rome to Journalists in Geneva, the WFPآ’s Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response Ross Smith said that the organization expects to reduce food assistance by 70 percent for communities already facing famine and by 50 percent for those at risk.
"With current funding WFP can only sustain its work for four more months," He warned.
Smith described the situation in (Al Fasher) as "beyond horrific", adding that between 70,000 and 100,000 people may still be trapped inside the besieged city where a total communications blackout has left humanitarian agencies effectively blind to conditions on the ground.
He explained that satellite images and accounts from survivors paint a grim picture, mass killings, burned bodies, empty markets and no sign that trade routes or supply lines have been restored.
"We have no WFP partners left in the city," Smith said, adding that even community kitchens appear to be completely shut down.
He noted that escaping (Al Fasher) is now extremely dangerous with roads in and around the city are strewn with landmines and unexploded ordnance He added that more than 650,000 people from (Zamzam camp) and (Al Fasher) have taken refuge in and around (Tawila) turning it into one of Sudanآ’s largest displacement.
Smith reported that WFP managed to reach 500,000 people in November and continues to assist around two million people each month in (Darfur) and more than four million across Sudan with emergency food cash and nutrition support adding that new convoys carrying food for 700,000 people are currently heading toward Tawila.
Smith emphasized that the needs far outweigh what humanitarian agencies can provide, warning that the agency is approaching a major pipeline break and without urgent action drastic ration cuts are inevitable.
WFP called for 700 million over the next six months to maintain its current level of assistance and to prevent the humanitarian situation from worsening further in (Darfur) and the (Kordofans). (end) imk.mt